The University of South Carolina Beaufort baseball team hits the road this weekend for an early start to Sun Conference play with a three-game series Friday and Saturday at Webber International. The series figures to be a competitive one, as the Sand Sharks were picked to finish third in the preseason and the Warriors were picked fourth. USCB is coming off a four-game split with Shawnee State (Ohio) to open the season last weekend. All 10 Sun Conference teams begin league play this weekend. In other action, Ave Maria plays at Warner, Florida Memorial is at Thomas, Southeastern plays at Embry-Riddle and Northwood is at St. Thomas.
LEADING OFF
Date: Friday, Feb. 8, and Saturday, Feb. 9
Time: 7 p.m. Friday, Noon Saturday (DH)
Location: Babson Park, Fla.
Series: USCB leads 8-5 overall; WIU leads 4-2 at home
2012 Results: USCB swept three games
ABOUT WEBBER INTERNATIONAL
The Warriors are led by coach Brad Niethammer, who has compiled a 522-508 record in 20 seasons at WIU. They have lost four of their first five games in 2013. WIU opened the season with a doubleheader split against rival Warner and has lost to Embry-Riddle, Georgetown (Ky.) and Eckerd College. Senior 3B Trip Merrell has been the Warriors' hottest hitter, going 8-for-16 with three doubles and three RBIs, and senior OF Billy Farrell (6-for-16) and sophomore INF Justin Rose (5-for-16) also have hit the ball well. Sophomore RHP Cody Palmquist has the only win on the mound for a pitching staff that has compiled a 4.06 team ERA.
Head-to-head (*indicates home team; #indicates neutral site)
3/27/2009 *USCB 13, WIU 6
3/28/2009 WIU 16, *USCB 6
3/29/2009 *USCB 5, WIU 4
4/23/2010 USCB 9, *WIU 3
4/24/2010 USCB 14, *WIU 0
4/24/2010 *WIU 7, USCB 1
2/25/2011 *WIU 5, USCB 1
2/26/2011 *WIU 7, USCB 6
2/26/2011 *WIU 5, USCB 1
#5/4/2011 USCB 8, WIU 3
4/20/2012 *USCB 5, WIU 4
4/21/2012 *USCB 3, WIU 2
4/21/2012 *USCB 6, WIU 3
LIVE COVERAGE
TV: None
Streaming video: None
Live stats: Webber International
NOTES
• USCB has won its last two road series and five of its last six road games dating to last season. The Sand Sharks took two of three at Embry-Riddle last April 6-7 and swept a three-game series at Warner on April 13-14.
• Junior 1B Erik Armstrong and junior OF Blake Cilwick had big weekends at the plate against Shawnee State, as both are tied for 10th in the NAIA in RBIs per game (2).
• Sophomore OF Kyle Thompson has reached base in nine consecutive plate appearances with three hits, five walks and a hit by pitch during the streak.
• Armstrong (7) needs two home runs to tie Brandon Collins for USCB's career lead.
• Junior RHP Hunter Englehart struck out seven over five innings in winning his USCB debut. He ranks 18th in the NAIA in strikeouts per nine innings (12.6).
RELATED LINKS
USCB Baseball Media Guide
USCB Sand Sharks on Facebook
USCB Athletics on Twitter
